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G; P. BOSWORTH.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

v APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, I918, 1,428,318. at t dfi pt. 5, 1922.

1 6 SHEETSSHEET I.

Inveni'or: George Pliosworifiw. 6 WJ/ Q W Z3 8 G; P. BOSWORTH.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. I918.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

I76 snzarsmam a.

Iii/06221303 George Plioworth.

' G. P. BOSWORTH.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1918.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

I6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

9. P. BOSWORTH..

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLICATION-HLED NOV. 20, 1918.

PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

lnveniior G60? 6 Bosworih.

a. P. BOSWORTH.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES. APP LICATION FILED, NOV. 20, 1.918.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922 16 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Iiwvniaw' 66 eIPBoswar-ih,

O3" 11 gray/W WM i P. BOSWORTH. MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLlCATION FILED NOV. 20, 1918 PatenwdSept. 5, 1922.

16 SHEETS-SHE! I.

I Mew/57o? (Zeor e PBosworZYa a M G. P. BOSWORTH.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLiCATlON FILED NOV- 20,1918.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922 16 S HEETSSHEEI 8.

G. P. BOSWORIH. MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, I918. Patentedsept. 5, I6 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

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e. Y P BOSWORT H.' MECHANISM FOR KNITTING G-L'OY'ES.

APPLICATION FILIED NOV. zohmam Patented Sept. 5', 1922.

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Invenior: aeowllosworifi,

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MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1918. 1,428,318.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

I6 SHEETSSHEET I4.

George Rlioswoviiv,

Inveni'az':

G. P. BOSWORTH.

- MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1918.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

I6 SHEETS-SHEET If).

Invefli/ or: v a" ePBoaworih.

Geo

G. P. BOSWORTH.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES.

- APPUCATION men NOV. 20. 1918. 1,428,318. Patenfedsept. 5, 1922;

\ 1s suns-shin 1a. J f LZ'LZ'IIIIIIIII EIZILTIIIIIIZ J Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES.

IAZFBltB PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE rQnosWonrr'ir, or cnnrnan FALLS, nrronn ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 HE1VP- HILL COMPANY, or rAWtrUcKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION or MASSA- CHUSETTS.

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING GLOVES;

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon P. Boswonri-r,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Knitting Gloves, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters-011 the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines particularly but not exclusively intended for knitting gloves, and like articles.

In order thatthe principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have in the accompanying drawings, disclosed two embodiments of the mechanism of my invention. i

In the drawings, I

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a circular knitting machine constituting one embodiment oi the mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 1 is development of the drum having camsfor controlling certain of the 0perative parts and illustrating said cams diagrammatically; p I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

3 is a planview of the knitting head of said'ma chine and representing that form of mechanism having threes'ets of knitting cams; a

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine taken below the latch ring, preferably employed, and representing in plan the knitting and other cams, certain of the parts being in section; V

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of theupper part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3; F 6 is an end elevation of the upper part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view 01"- certain of the non-knitting cams and including the selecl'iing cams and the plural-group withdrawing cams;

Fig. 7 is a detail in end elevation of one of the group withdrawal cams andone of the group-selecting cams;

Fig. 'I is a detail in end elevation of another of the group selective cams;

Fig. 7 is a detail in side elevation and vertical section of one of the cams for render ing the needles inactive, said cam being herein termed a plural-group withdrawing cam;

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the needles in circular series, indicating their aggroupment for the production of the thumb and fingers and indicating their lengths of needle butts.

Fig. 9 is a diagram similar to Fig. 8, but indicating the length and other characteristics of the jack butts;

Fig. 10 is a development of the knitting cams and showing three sets or blocks of knitting-cams characteristic of one form of my invention and also indicating the nonknitting cams by which the desired groups of needles are ,successively retained or brought into action;

Fig. 11 is a detail in vertical section upon the line 1111 of Fig. 4 and indicating one of the non-knitting cams whereby the de sired needles are retained or brought into action;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of Fig. 11 with parts in section;

Fig. 13 is a detail mainly in horizontal section of the preferred form of means for operating one of the needle selecting cams;

Fig. 14 is a development indicating the needles and the length of their butts, jacks for certain of the needles and the aggroup ment of said needles for forming the thumb andfinger strips;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation representing one of each of the needles employed in the practice of my invention, and the jacks or extensions of such of said needles as are provided therewith;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but of a modified form of my invention wherein four sets or blocks of knitting cams are provided; I

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the sets or blocks of knitting cams employed in. that form of my invention represented in Fig. 16 together with a part of the operating means therefor;

Fig. 18 is a development similar to Fig. 10, but of that form of my invention employing four sets or blocks of knitting cams;

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the lower parts of the jacks of those needles employed in knitting the thumb;

Fig. 20 is a similar diagram of the jacks for the needles for knitting the first finger;

Fig. 21 is a similar diagram of the jacks for the needles for knitting the second finger;

Fig. 22 is a similar diagram of the jacks for the needles for knitting the third finger; and

Fig. 23 is a similar diagram of the jacks for the needles for knitting the fourth or little finger.

While my invention may be employed in knitting articles other than glove blanks or units, or a connected sequence of such glove blanks or units, it is preferably employed in the formation of glove blanks or units, and preferably but not necessarily the glove made in accordance with my invention has some or most of the characteristics of the glove blanks disclosed in my application Serial No. 252,965, filed Sept. 9, 1918, excepting that preferably, but not necessarily instead of knitting the entire glove blank of a single thread, certain of the thumb or finger sections are, according to the present embodiment of the invention, formed from a thread or threads other than that from which the wrist and hand are knitted.

In the mechanism disclosed in my application Serial No. 233,301, filed May 8, 1918, I employed but a single set of knitting cams. I employed a rotatable needle cylinder and stationary knitting cams, and in the formation of the thumb and finger sections or strips the needle cylinder was reciprocated.

In order that the proper needles might be acted upon by the knitting cams for-the formation of each digit section or strip, means were provided for centering for the time being with reference to the knitting cams and the yarn guide, that group of needles operative in the knitting of a digit strip. This I effected by angularly shifting the needle cylinder with relation to its actuating connections.

In the disclosed embodiments of my invention, I avoid the necessity for the angular shift of the needle cylinder (or more broadly stated the relative angular shift of the needle cylinder) and provide a plurality of knitting stations at each of which I employ knitting cams of any suitable number, but herein represented in one form of my invention as three in number and in another form of my invention as four in number. Preferably, but not necessarily I provide a thread guide for and corresponding to each set of knitting cams, and during circular knitting, that is, in the formation of the wrist and hand of the glove, one only of said sets of knitting cams is in action. The thumb and fingers of the glove are formed as strips having selvaged edges and are produced by reciprocating knitting upon the appropriate needles, which to that end are divided into groups as hereinafter more fully described and constituting the thumb group and the four finger groups.

l/Vithin the scope and purpose of my invention, each of said groups of needles may be distinct from the others, but preferably certain of the needles are common to two groups. Also within the scope and purpose of my invention I may employ a knitting cam or set of knitting cams for each of said groups, which cam or set of knitting cams is distinct from those for knitting each of the other groups, but preferably and in the first form of my invention, I provide three groups of knitting cams, the first of which is employed to knit the thumb and also the first finger as well as the wrist and hand; the second of said sets of knitting cams being employed to knit the second and third fingers; and the third set of knitting cams being employed to knit the fourth or little finger. Obviously within the scope and purpose of my invention the cam employed to knit the wrist and hand may be distinct from the cams employed to knit the digits.

In the other form of my invention herein shown, I- emplo four sets of knitting cams, the first of w ich is used to knit the wrist, the hand, the thumb and the first finger; the second set being used to knit the fourth or little finger and preferably simultaneously with the knitting of the first finger; the third set being used to knit the second finger and the fourth set being used to knit the third finger.

Throughout the description I shall refer to the rotation or reciprocation of the needle cylinder, but it will be understood that within the scope and purpose of my invention, the needle cylinder may be stationary and the cam ring or cylinder may be rotated and reciprocated. I

In order to knit the thumb and the fingers, certain needles that otherwise would be acted upon by the knitting cams are rendered inactive by suitable means, andpreferably by elevating them, and the needle cylinder is reciprocated through a wide enough arc to cause the proper knitting cam to act upon and cause to function the proper needles for making the desired digit strip. The other digit strips are knitted upon the proper needles which are caused to function y the proper knitting cams, the other needles being rendered inactive as hereinafter described.

I have herein shown my invention as applied to that general class of circular knitting machines diselosed in the patent to Hemphill, No. 933,443, dated September 7,

1909, for improvement in circular automatic stocking knitting machines, but my inven heels, and in certaincases withjacks, where-- by the knitting of the digit strips may effected through the cooperation of the said cams.

The special butts or heels and the nonknitting cams constitute one form of selec tive devices or means which provides for the production of a selvaged thumb strip at the proper point in the tubular hand portion of a glove unit and the production of selvaged finger strips upon the end of the said hand portion. The said parts so cooperate that they selectively determine the group of needles that shall be operative to knit a given digit strip by reciprocating action; they render each group of needles inoperative to knit after the formation of its digit strip, and render a cin'erent group operative to knit other digit str ns, until all of such strips will be produced in the desired succession.

Preferably, but not necessarily, I cause certain of the needles'of a group employed in knitting one digit strip to be included in and madea part of a group employed in knitting the next adjoining digit strip,

and also preferably but not necessarily I employ in the needle groups certain needles which I term gusset needles, so tnatthe respective digit strips may be of the proper width.

While I shall proceed to describe in do tail a certain sequence of operations, Tl desire it to be understood that myinvention may be otherwise embodied, and. that the sequence of operations maybe varied and other changes made as, for example, by omission of the thumb strip and thumb opening, or the formation of digit strips upon a previously knitted hand which had been transferred from another machine, or the formation of a glove-mitten wherein a thumb and first finger strip are provided, but wherein the second, third and fourth fingers or certain of such fingers are of a mitten like construction.

In the preferred form of my invention represented by Figs. 1 to 15 inclusive, I

represent mechanism operated to produce a glove unit or blank in the following sequence to which my invention is, however, not limited.

First l knit a tubular fabric to form the wrist and a part of the hand portion up to the base of the thumb. I then knit upon certain group of needles while the others remain out of action until a selvaged flat strip has been produced of a length sufficient to form the thumb by doubling it back upon itself and uniting its opposite sides. The thumb, if knitted integrally with the hand, may, however, be formed in any suitable manner. I then knit upon all the needles and produce a circular fabric completing the hand portion of the gloveunit up to the bases of the fingers. After coinpleting the hand portion, 1 then knit as described more fully hereinafter upon a certain group of needles only, having retired the first iii'iger strip to produce by reciprc eating knittingaselvaged ilat strip of fabric to constitute the adjoining finger; that is, herein the second fin r and of twice the length thereof, so that it can be folded transversely and seamed along its opposite edges and also across its base, either front or back. l then knit on adjoining needles and de ably with a part of those used in knitting the second finger strip to produce by reciprocati knitting selvaged flat strip to cons ute the third linger, being of tvice the length thereof, so that 'it also can be folded t ansversely and seamed along its opposite edges and also across its base, front or bi. 1k. I then knit upon adjoining needles to make by reciprocating knitting a selvaged flat strip of a width suitable for forming the little finger by doi. .ling'the strip lengthwise and seaming its side edges lengthwise and closing up the end.

A dove unit thus produced has the second i :ii' oppoi .1 i a. .1 T v hird hnuers seamen aion the main umb and first linger limited to the formation of a glove of the character just specifically described, as the mechanism of my invention is adapted to making other types of gloves than that described.

Inasmuch as certain general parts o mechanism herein shown may be and pre erably are the same as those s n l said patent to Hemphill, l lo. 933, 3, l designated such parts by the same reference characters that are en'iployed in the said patent. Thus the ma chine frame is marked a, the rotatable needle cylinder in F l and 2 is marked N. the non-rotatable cam carrier is marked H, and the annular portion or ledge of the said cam carrier is marked M. The pulleys for the driving band are marked respectively 32, g), p in Fig.1 (quick speed, slow speed and loose), and at s, Fig. 2, is indicated the main shaft on which said pulleys are mounted.

at s, f, 9, being the pattern drums or pattern barrels upon said pattern shaft, and f is the pattern on the drum or barrel 7, which engages with the member 6 carried by the clutch shiltin lever Z for the purpose oi? controlling; ..d lever, and thereby the working of the machine produce either continuous rotation of the needle cylinder or reciprocation thereof, as required. The details of the mechanism controlled. by the pattern ring 7, through which at times th needle cylinder is rotated continuously in a. forward direction. for round and round knitting, and at times is rec orocited forward and backward for fiat l itting may be and preferably are the same as in said Hemphill Patent No. 933,453, and are unnecessary to be shown herein.

Although I shall describe in detail those embodiments of my invention wherein the needle cylinder rotates and reciprocates and the cam cylinder is stationary, it is obvious that the reverse mode oi. operation. may be employed. within the scope and purpose of my invention.

The latch ring C is pivoted at l 2 and 3, and at the point diametrically opposite thereto is received upon the u post or standard 1 substantially as in said Hemphill patent. Instead, however, 01' providing a yarn guide or set oil. yarn guides at one point only of said latch ring C, T preterably provide a number of yarn gu des or sets of yarn guides corresponding to the number of sets of knitting cams, which in the first described embodiment of my invention is three. Therefore, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 5, 6, T provide three yarn guides 2, 3, l respectively pivoted at 5, 6, '7 in radially extending slo'a'ited portions 8, 9, 10 of said latch ring C. I

Each yarn guide is provided with a men ber 11 outwardly extending beyond its pivot in Figs.

and adapted to be acted upon by a spring 12 to retain the same in its lower yarn feeding position. Since in this embodiment of my invention each of the sets orblocks of knitting cams is at times rendered inactive. i: prefer bly provide means whereby at the same time the corresponding yarn guide is rendered inactive. For this purpose, in depending cars 13 upon the latch ring, I have pivoted 1d levers 15 having arms 16 extending above their pivots and adapt-ed to engage the yarn guides below their pivot-s 5, 6, 7. The lower end of each lever 15 is adapted to engage the corresponding knitting cam block, so that when the said cam block is rendered inactive and herein by moving it radially outward, the'arm 16 of said lever is moved inward, thereby elevating the corresponding yarn guide into inactive position.

In order to select the desired groups of needles for knitting the digit strips, I may employ any suitable means, but preferably 1 provide the needles, or certain of them, with special butts or heels, and in some cases provide the needles with extensions or jacks having butts. lVith said butts, in this embodiment of my invention, 1 provide two plural-group needle-withdrawa-l cams indicated in Fig. 10 and elsewhere at 1'7 and 18. The said cam 1'? is herein located at one-side of the series of sets of knitting cams and the cam 18 is herein located below the knitting cams, and preferably between the first and second sets thereof. The needle restoring cams are indicated at 19 and 20 preferably slightly above the knitting cams or certain thereof, the cam 20 being located at the end of the series of sets of knitting cams opposite the plural-group-withdrawal-cam 17. One of the group-withdrawal cams is indicated at 21 below the sets of knitting cams, inasmuch as in this embodiment of my invention the said cam is designed to act upon the jacks of a certain group'ol needles, as hereinafter more fully described. The other group-withdrawal cam is indicated at 22, this cam also being located beneath the series oi knitting cams, so as to act upon the jacks, or certain of the needles. The group-selective cams are indicated at 23, 2d and and these cams are likewise positioned. below the series of knitting cams, since they are also designed to act upon jacks or certain of the groups of needles.

I shall first refer to the construction of the needles with reference to their special butts and their jacks.

Two sets of butts are provided in connection with the needles indicated generally at 26 in Fig. 15. The butts of one set, being the upper set in the disclosed embodiment of my invention, are adapted to be engaged by the knitting cams for knitting purposes. Accordingly the butts of this set 

